WTHeck... is up with kids meals

[Halbleib1]

While it was great to see something other than nuggets etc on the BOG kids menu it would have been even better if it actually tasted good to the kids as well. We ate dinner there in Dec 2012 and my kids had the meatloaf. They love meatloaf but took one bite and the rest went to waste. It did not even look appealing to me or my husband. It was very dry and looked like mystery meat. So while it was great to see them offering something different unless it tastes and looks good kids are not going to eat it.

My kids do not have the luxury of being picky due to the restrictions they already have in their diets. From a very young age we made sure to introduce them to new foods. We have always made them try at least a bite of everything that was diet safe no matter how much they complained. While it took awhile for them to like some foods, most things after trying it a few times they now like. Some have even become favorites. That is why I always tell parents with picky eaters to keep trying to get their kids to at least try things they say they don't like.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

San Angel Inn has a different kids menu. That might be an option if you/they like Mexican food.

They do!! Thanks I will check that one out!

 

[ttintagel]

as for all the other folks on this thread talking about people complaining etc etc... and BOG and chicken nuggets.. I have no idea what you are talking about seems to be some animosity there so Im not replying to whatever you are conversing about... I dont get it

Those folks are trying to answer the question you asked, "What the heck is up with kids' meals?"

They're not showing any animosity towards you; they're telling you why kids' meals are the way they are: because of the customers who demand that they be that way. They're showing animosity towards those customers. The ones who post frequent threads like these:

I am interested in trying Biergarten when we visit Epcot in June, but my 9 year old is pretty particular in his eating habits and I haven't seen anything on their buffet list that I think he would eat. Has anyone had any luck with being able to get kid friendly food here (chicken nuggets, hot dog, PBJ)?

BOG is #1 on our list as the atmosphere looks really cool and menu looks great for dh and myself. One thing though...the kids meal doesn't seem too kid-friendly.

BOG-any kid friendly dinner options that are not on the menu?

There are several table service restaurants I would like to try on our next trip, but there is nothing he will eat.
Do table service restaurants have items not on the menu, like chicken nuggets?
Or could I buy him a meal at a counter restaurant and bring it into a table restaurant?

Can anyone tell me if, at BOG for dinner, a child can order chicken nuggets even though they are not on the menu? We were told a few years ago by a CM that ALL restaurants have them for kids "just in case" even if they are not on the menu. There is NOTHING on the kids menu my 4 year old is going to touch, and we don't want to miss eating here if he can definitely get chicken nuggets here too. But I HAVE to be sure

We have a dinner reservation for Rose and Crown and it's iffy if my 4 year old will eat fish and chips. I KNOW he won't eat anything else on the kids menu. Is it totally taboo to have hubby run over to refreshment port and grab him some chicken nuggets and bring them in for us?

With all the new non kid friendly kids menus there are a few places I am thinking about getting a QS chicken meal before we go in.

And these are just the first few that came up in a quick search for the last few months. So, please don't take it personally when people try to share their frustration with you about why it's so hard to get decent food on kids' menus.

 

[CalSea12]

My DD is 2 she eats chicken nuggets, corn dogs, mac and cheese, but she also eats everything mom and dad eats. So she has her fair share of ethnic foods especially Thai, she has veggies, and fruits, fish (she loves fish). When we go to WDW since she is under 3 she is free, she eats off mom and dads plates or we order her something. I am really glad she is adventerous, but when she gets over 3 I am prob going to have to upgrade her to an adult, bc she will get sick of chicken nuggets all the time.

I knew a lady who let her kids eat whatever they wanted, ie chicken nuggets, pizza, and as adults that is all they eat now. I am very big on introducing all kinds of foods to my DD early.

 

[prudence64]

You guys should trying having a vegetarian child. You can only have cheese pizza and macaroni and cheese so many times.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

This may sound like an odd question, but do you have things like fish fingers (fish sticks?) in the US? Kids here eat a lot of them and at least with them being white fish it's good for them.

Now, I LOVE macaroni cheese - English macaroni cheese, that is! Made with real cheddar cheese. I have no idea what's in the Kraft mac and cheese, but I have yet to try one in the US where either the pasta hasn't been overcooked until it's pappy or a cheese sauce that isn't bright yellow and actually tastes of cheese!!

I can't speak for others, but I never made special meals for DD when she was young - she'd have a small portion of what we were having. In fact, she's less fussy than I am!!

If kids will only eat nuggets and fries, for example, then isn't that the parents' fault for not introducing different foods? Yes, I know that kids get into 'I won't eat anything other than X', but as a doctor once said no child will let itself starve to death!! My husband's nephew was a very fussy eater, and they used to bribe him with one olive if he ate a mouthful of something he needed to eat, such as a cube of meat or fish (he loved olives). Now, at about 24, he'll eat anything!

 

[prudence64]

This may sound like an odd question, but do you have things like fish fingers (fish sticks?) in the US? Kids here eat a lot of them and at least with them being white fish it's good for them.

Now, I LOVE macaroni cheese - English macaroni cheese, that is! Made with real cheddar cheese. I have no idea what's in the Kraft mac and cheese, but I have yet to try one in the US where either the pasta hasn't been overcooked until it's pappy or a cheese sauce that isn't bright yellow and actually tastes of cheese!!

I can't speak for others, but I never made special meals for DD when she was young - she'd have a small portion of what we were having. In fact, she's less fussy than I am!!

If kids will only eat nuggets and fries, for example, then isn't that the parents' fault for not introducing different foods? Yes, I know that kids get into 'I won't eat anything other than X', but as a doctor once said no child will let itself starve to death!! My husband's nephew was a very fussy eater, and they used to bribe him with one olive if he ate a mouthful of something he needed to eat, such as a cube of meat or fish (he loved olives). Now, at about 24, he'll eat anything!

My daughter eats pretty well now, but went through a very picky phase. She would only set after a fight. Just for the sake of saving our vacation from added stress I might've let her eat Mac and cheese every day.

 

[Halbleib1]

This may sound like an odd question, but do you have things like fish fingers (fish sticks?) in the US? Kids here eat a lot of them and at least with them being white fish it's good for them.

Now, I LOVE macaroni cheese - English macaroni cheese, that is! Made with real cheddar cheese. I have no idea what's in the Kraft mac and cheese, but I have yet to try one in the US where either the pasta hasn't been overcooked until it's pappy or a cheese sauce that isn't bright yellow and actually tastes of cheese!!

I can't speak for others, but I never made special meals for DD when she was young - she'd have a small portion of what we were having. In fact, she's less fussy than I am!!

If kids will only eat nuggets and fries, for example, then isn't that the parents' fault for not introducing different foods? Yes, I know that kids get into 'I won't eat anything other than X', but as a doctor once said no child will let itself starve to death!! My husband's nephew was a very fussy eater, and they used to bribe him with one olive if he ate a mouthful of something he needed to eat, such as a cube of meat or fish (he loved olives). Now, at about 24, he'll eat anything!

We do eat other mac and cheese here as well. Also not all processed mac and cheese is made with fake cheese like kraft boxed mac and cheese. Stouffers which is what is mostly served at Disney is made with real cheese. It is yellow because they use the yellow cheddar instead of white cheddar cheese. It is actually not bad for a frozen mac and cheese when baked correctly but definately not as good as homemade mac and cheese.

We do have fish sticks. Although I wouldn't consider them much better than chicken nuggets.

 

[Halbleib1]

My daughter eats pretty well now, but went through a very picky phase. She would only set after a fight. Just for the sake of saving our vacation from added stress I might've let her eat Mac and cheese every day.

Every child goes through those phases I think. If I would let her my 3 yr old daughter would eat nothing but pasta right now. Also I think most if not all of us at some point have given in while on vacation so as not to have meltdowns and added stress. Esp when travelling with toddlers.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

Those folks are trying to answer the question you asked, "What the heck is up with kids' meals?"

They're not showing any animosity towards you; they're telling you why kids' meals are the way they are: because of the customers who demand that they be that way. They're showing animosity towards those customers. The ones who post frequent threads like these:

I am interested in trying Biergarten when we visit Epcot in June, but my 9 year old is pretty particular in his eating habits and I haven't seen anything on their buffet list that I think he would eat. Has anyone had any luck with being able to get kid friendly food here (chicken nuggets, hot dog, PBJ)?

BOG is #1 on our list as the atmosphere looks really cool and menu looks great for dh and myself. One thing though...the kids meal doesn't seem too kid-friendly.

BOG-any kid friendly dinner options that are not on the menu?

There are several table service restaurants I would like to try on our next trip, but there is nothing he will eat.
Do table service restaurants have items not on the menu, like chicken nuggets?
Or could I buy him a meal at a counter restaurant and bring it into a table restaurant?

Can anyone tell me if, at BOG for dinner, a child can order chicken nuggets even though they are not on the menu? We were told a few years ago by a CM that ALL restaurants have them for kids "just in case" even if they are not on the menu. There is NOTHING on the kids menu my 4 year old is going to touch, and we don't want to miss eating here if he can definitely get chicken nuggets here too. But I HAVE to be sure

We have a dinner reservation for Rose and Crown and it's iffy if my 4 year old will eat fish and chips. I KNOW he won't eat anything else on the kids menu. Is it totally taboo to have hubby run over to refreshment port and grab him some chicken nuggets and bring them in for us?

With all the new non kid friendly kids menus there are a few places I am thinking about getting a QS chicken meal before we go in.

And these are just the first few that came up in a quick search for the last few months. So, please don't take it personally when people try to share their frustration with you about why it's so hard to get decent food on kids' menus.

Dont worry, I knew it wasnt toward me,. we actually like chicken nuggets...i just assumed something else must be going on and since you have copied all the threads I see I was right.. LOL

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Chicken Nuggets and Pizza is not Disney trying to "play to the masses"...

..there's just more profit in these things.

 

[6disneykids]

I have 5 adventurous kids and one not so adventurous kid. It is possible, not easy. But to my surprise, the "picky" eater LOVED BOG! She even said it was her favorite meal on our last trip.

 

[jennilouwho]

I'm confused... Is the allears menu not up to date on Coral Reef? It doesn't even list nuggets or pizza as an option. It has fish, shrimp, steak, pork tenderloin and chicken breast. I was actually excited about giving my kids a healthier option there. Are those things really not available then?

 

[LisaTC]

Ok, I have added as many buffets to my ADR's as I would like to, only because when I look at the kids menus to these $$$$$$ Table service places, its well... pathetic.. and doesn't look appetizing at ALL. My 7 year old likes Pizza and pasta, BUT wouldn't it be cool if he could try something other than that at all these meals?
Please let me know of a GOOD table service restaurant with a good kids menu... ?? if there is one? in all of WDW? Can I upgrade him to adult meals?
Poor thing will be eating all my food, which Im fine with.. but.. UGH you get my point.

For this reason, we upgraded our DD twice to an adult starting at age 7. She's apparently not among the masses of liking mac/cheese, nuggets. She likes salmon and other fish, salad, pasta, steak and loads of veggies. We raised her that way from little up when she went to solid food, we fed her from our plates. We had the DP as a promotion. Otherwise, we wouldn't buy it on purpose.

I don't understand why kids meal = chicken nuggets or pizza or maybe mac and cheese. And that's it. None of them are good nutritionally and I cannot believe that American kids will eat nothing else!!

They would likely eat other things, it's easier and more profitable for Disney to sell these overly processed kids meals. Sad fact. Another sad fact is we have at least 2 generations of children who have been eating this food and feel it is the norm. Given them a green bean and they look at you like Satan. Healthy food is more expensive.

Yep, it amazes me too. I just dont get it. People were complaining that kids meals included too much junk. Yet when BOG introduced healthier options, people were outraged and started bringing in their own nuggets! Like WTH??

Irritates me to no end, as well.

Now, I LOVE macaroni cheese - English macaroni cheese, that is! Made with real cheddar cheese. I have no idea what's in the Kraft mac and cheese, but I have yet to try one in the US where either the pasta hasn't been overcooked until it's pappy or a cheese sauce that isn't bright yellow and actually tastes of cheese!!

Try the Italian version...even better! I'm not a processed food fan. I was raised on a farm with a mom who made everything from scratch. I can be a food snob, sadly and spoiled by my mom.

I can't speak for others, but I never made special meals for DD when she was young - she'd have a small portion of what we were having. In fact, she's less fussy than I am!!

I think you've hit on something key that some families miss. We did this as well, but sitting down to dinner is going by the way side, we're all too busy! Another fact people don't realize is that your taste buds aren't fully matured until early twenties. They change monthly. Most people don't want to fight with their kids about food, especially on vacation.

If kids will only eat nuggets and fries, for example, then isn't that the parents' fault for not introducing different foods?

I'd say so, but I'd probably get flamed, so I won't say so...

 

[Karlzmom]

True, you can find a burger, mac and cheese and chicken nuggets nearly everywhere, but I was able to come up with a fair list of other options with very little effort.

The Mickey Check Meal options almost always have a fish option.
Le Cell has a steak option and a salmon option.
9 Dragons has LoMein and Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Tokyo Dining has Tempura Shrimp and Teryaki Chicken.
Hacienda has steak &b chicken tacos and grilled Tilapia.
Spice Road has a chicken kabob.
Rose and Crown has fish and chips.
Jiko has seared scallops.
Sanaa has seared shrimp.
Kouzzina has greek lasagna.
The Wave has a petit filet and grilled pork tenderloin.
Maya Grill has steak and Chicken Tacos.
Citricos has steak, pork and shrimp.
Narcoosee has steak.
Kona has a hot dog and shrimp skewers.
Artist's Point has salmon.
Whispering Canyon Cafe - kids have the AYCTE platter option
Captain's Grill has steak kabobs and shrimp skewers.

Add in the QS options that are outside the "norm"...the tuna sandwich at Columbia Harbor House, the variety as Sunshine Seasons, Flame Tree BBQ's baked chicken leg...etc. You can mix it up pretty well and not be stuff in buffet-land. Good Luck!

 

[jenjersnap]

I'm confused... Is the allears menu not up to date on Coral Reef? It doesn't even list nuggets or pizza as an option. It has fish, shrimp, steak, pork tenderloin and chicken breast. I was actually excited about giving my kids a healthier option there. Are those things really not available then?

I chose Coral Reef as one of our few non-buffet and non-Signature TS because of the kid's menu (honestly, the adult menu isn't that great to me but I will make do, lol). It does seem like one of the most well-rounded regular TS menus at the World. The only "typical" item is the mac, oh excuse me, SHELLS and cheese. My kid loves getting the lobster bisque as his kid's meal appetizer too.

The other non-sigs on our list are Teppan Edo because they serve smaller versions of adult meals and Liberty Tree Tavern which has a more typical kid menu but my DS loves their Hawaiian flatbread.

 

[nfggirl5454]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Raglan Road. The children's menu there seems pretty extensive - steak, fish, shrimp, risotto, etc. And the dancers/musicians there are fun to watch, providing the kids with entertainment.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

True, you can find a burger, mac and cheese and chicken nuggets nearly everywhere, but I was able to come up with a fair list of other options with very little effort. The Mickey Check Meal options almost always have a fish option. Le Cell has a steak option and a salmon option. 9 Dragons has LoMein and Sweet and Sour Chicken. Tokyo Dining has Tempura Shrimp and Teryaki Chicken. Hacienda has steak &b chicken tacos and grilled Tilapia. Spice Road has a chicken kabob. Rose and Crown has fish and chips. Jiko has seared scallops. Sanaa has seared shrimp. Kouzzina has greek lasagna. The Wave has a petit filet and grilled pork tenderloin. Maya Grill has steak and Chicken Tacos. Citricos has steak, pork and shrimp. Narcoosee has steak. Kona has a hot dog and shrimp skewers. Artist's Point has salmon. Whispering Canyon Cafe - kids have the AYCTE platter option Captain's Grill has steak kabobs and shrimp skewers. Add in the QS options that are outside the "norm"...the tuna sandwich at Columbia Harbor House, the variety as Sunshine Seasons, Flame Tree BBQ's baked chicken leg...etc. You can mix it up pretty well and not be stuff in buffet-land. Good Luck!

this is VVVERRRY helpful!! thank you!!!

 

[Later_Mater2009]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Raglan Road. The children's menu there seems pretty extensive - steak, fish, shrimp, risotto, etc. And the dancers/musicians there are fun to watch, providing the kids with entertainment.

this is also very helpful thank you!!!!

 

[Later_Mater2009]

For this reason, we upgraded our DD twice to an adult starting at age 7. She's apparently not among the masses of liking mac/cheese, nuggets. She likes salmon and other fish, salad, pasta, steak and loads of veggies. We raised her that way from little up when she went to solid food, we fed her from our plates. We had the DP as a promotion. Otherwise, we wouldn't buy it on purpose. They would likely eat other things, it's easier and more profitable for Disney to sell these overly processed kids meals. Sad fact. Another sad fact is we have at least 2 generations of children who have been eating this food and feel it is the norm. Given them a green bean and they look at you like Satan. Healthy food is more expensive. Irritates me to no end, as well. Try the Italian version...even better! I'm not a processed food fan. I was raised on a farm with a mom who made everything from scratch. I can be a food snob, sadly and spoiled by my mom. I think you've hit on something key that some families miss. We did this as well, but sitting down to dinner is going by the way side, we're all too busy! Another fact people don't realize is that your taste buds aren't fully matured until early twenties. They change monthly. Most people don't want to fight with their kids about food, especially on vacation. I'd say so, but I'd probably get flamed, so I won't say so...

Thank you Lisa for all your input. All very good!!